Page 60 of Hold the Line

Joy’s brows rose. “You’re solid now?”

I turned to Phoebe. She nodded, and I turned back to Joy, smiling. “Yeah. We’re solid.”

“Well”—Joy cleared her throat, and I swore I saw a flush rising up her cheeks—“I couldn’t think of two better people. Though, I can’t say I saw this coming when I rented you your apartment, Deke. Wish I could claim I had.”

Phoebe laughed softly. “If you want to, you can. I won’t contradict you.”

Joy reached across the bar to pat Phoebe’s cheek. “I’m not saying I will, but if you hear rumors about me being a matchmaker swirling around, you’ll know who it came from, sweetie. Now, what can I get you two to eat and drink?”

We placed our orders before moving to a table tucked in a corner. Phoebe had been the one to choose it, and she didn’t give me a chance to wonder why.

“It’s quieter over here.” She glanced over her shoulder at the screens above the bar. “I love coming to Joy’s, but she keeps the TVs too loud on game nights. Drives me nuts.”

“Not a sports fan?”

She huffed a laugh. “I can’t say I am. I love hitting one or two Rockies games during the summer, but I mostly like going to watch the sunset. Have you ever been to a game?”

“I haven’t, but I do like baseball.”

“We’ll have to go.” She paused, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. “Are you allowed to leave the state? Denver’s so close, but it would mean crossing state lines. And…well, can you?”

“Hate you have to ask me that. Can’t even take my girl to a baseball game without the shitstorm of my past getting in the way.” I pressed on my stomach, which was a tangle of knots. “It hasn’t come up since I’ve been out, but if I check in with my parole officer first, it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Good. Then we’ll look at the calendar for the season and plan ahead.” She kept right on going, swerving around my torn-up guts, so I had no choice but to pick them up and put myself back together. “Like I said, I can take or leave baseball in general, but there’s something about watching a game while the sun sets behind the Rocky Mountains.”

Took me a minute, but I did what I had to do. Swallowing down the jagged pill of my past, I became fully invested in planning this future with the girl sitting across from me.

“I like the sound of that. I’m all in.”

She leaned forward, dropping her voice. “I was worried I’d jumped the gun, making plans for the summer.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Phoebe. Pleases the hell out of me to think of you in your sundresses.”

That earned me a laugh. “You haven’t even seen my sundresses yet.”

“I haven’t, but I know reality’s gonna be ten times better than my imagination since I’m no women’s fashion expert.”

She giggled harder. “I don’t think I want to know what you’re dreaming up in your head.”

I grinned at her, all the heaviness I’d been carrying the past couple weeks set aside so I could share this light moment with her.

“There’s not a lot to it.” I tapped my temple. “Up here, it’s pretty damn skimpy, if I’m being honest.”

“Oh my muffins.” She cupped her forehead, still laughing. “I fear you’re going to be disappointed at the amount of fabric that makes up my sundresses.”

“You’re wrong about that. You wear a paper bag; I wouldn’t be disappointed.” I flicked my gaze over the soft-looking sweater hugging her curves just right. “I’ve seen how you dress on a daily basis. You’re always so pretty I have trouble believing you’re real.”

The laugh on her lips flowed into a whisper. “Deacon, god, you really know the right things to say. Are you sure there isn’t a horde of girlfriends in your past?”

“I really don’t. When I say you’re the only one, I mean it.” I scooted my chair closer so I could impart a fact about myself I’d thought she’d understood. Brushing her hair over her shoulder, I put my mouth next to her ear. “You’re my first date. The first woman I’ve held hands with. The first woman I’ve made come, and who’s made me come. And if I’m lucky and we get there, you’ll be the first woman I make love to.”

She pulled back, her brown eyes wide. “What? Surely not…”

“I know you didn’t get in this to be my teacher.” I cupped the side of her face, my fingers sliding into her silky hair. “As natural as we’ve been together, I’m thinking I’ll catch on pretty quick. That is,ifwe get there, and you want that with me.”

“Deacon…of course I want that with you.” She blinked a few times. “I’m trying to make this make sense. I know you were away, but before…you’re so…I’m just…well, I’m surprised.”

“Turned off?”

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